His racial comments 'kicked/whipped/stirred up a storm' in the newspapers. [=newspapers criticized his racial comments very strongly]
The college was quiet that morning, but it was 'the calm before the storm'. Thousands of students would arrive later.
Newspapers have 'weathered the storm' of online information by providing news online themselves.
(..) CHARLO TTE/ There's no answer at Princess Mia's house... and I couIdn't get Joseph on the ceII phone. There's too much static from the storm. The press is starting to compIain... about making their deadIines. If she's not here in minutes, I'II make the announcement. (..)2001 The Princess Diaries